Collapsible container for transport and storage

ABSTRACT

Collapsible container which includes a base member, collapsible side walls, which adjacent side walls are inter-connectable. The base member is provided with feet members, a circumambient edge and a mainly horizontal load surface. The load surface is provided with recesses extending downwards from the load surface, said recesses being arranged adjacent the edge. At least one side wall is provided with downwards extending protrusions, said protrusions being arranged to interact with said recesses. Said at least one side wall engages the base member through vertical motion.

[0001] The present invention relates to collapsible container such as acollapsible pallet container for transport and storage.

[0002] Collapsible containers of the foldable pallet container type, arerather popular since they will make a radical saving of the empty returntransport volume possible. Foldable pallet containers are advantageouslymade of thermoplastic materials which will give light and still sturdycontainers which are easy to keep clean. Another advantage is that thetare-weight of such containers is very stable which is not the casewith, for example, wood containers where the tare-weight can double whenthe wood becomes wet. Yet another advantage is that thermoplasticmaterials do not corrode, which is the case with containers made frommetal such as steel and aluminium. Most thermoplastic materialsfurthermore have a good resistance to chemical substances such as acidsand bases, which is not the case with most metals.

[0003] Most collapsible containers available suffer from thedisadvantage that they are bulky, inflexible when handled.

[0004] Through the present invention a novel collapsible container withgreat flexibility has been achieved. The invention relates to acollapsible container, preferably a collapsible pallet container fortransport and storage. The collapsible container includes a base memberand collapsible side walls, which adjacent side walls areinter-connectable. The invention is characterised in that the basemember is provided with feet members, a circumambient edge and a mainlyhorizontal load surface whereby the load surface is provided withrecesses extending downwards from the load surface. Said recesses arearranged adjacent the edge. At least one side wall is provided withdownwards extending protrusions, said protrusions being arranged tointeract with said recesses. Said at least one side wall engages thebase member through vertical motion.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention the side wall isprovided with a claw while the circumambient edge is provided with avoid, said claw and void being arranged to interact so that an erectedside wall will be prevented from being unintentionally disengaged fromthe base member. The claw of the side wall is preferably disengaged fromthe void of the circumambient edge through the process of by beingangled slightly inwards followed by lifting the side wall.

[0006] The side walls are suitably provided coupling means at theirrespective vertical edges, said coupling means being intended to lockadjacent side walls together when they are in erected position. Saidcoupling means locking being disengaged by lifting said side wall andsaid coupling means being engaged by allowing said side wall to movedownwards when erected in correct position adjacent other erected sidewall. At least two side walls, arranged on opposite sides of thecontainer, are suitably provided with locking means. Said locking meansare used for locking adjacent side walls together when the side wallsare in erected position.

[0007] The protrusions are according to one embodiment of the inventionmoveably attached to the side wall via a hinge member.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention the protrusions areprovided with snapping heels while the recesses are provided withundercuts. The snapping heels and undercuts are adapted to interact,limiting the vertical movement of the protrusions and thereby the sidewall. The recesses, the undercuts, the protrusions and the snappingheels are suitably arranged to allow a limited vertical movement so thatthe protrusion, and thereby the side wall, will be located in alowermost position when the side wall is in erected position and in ahigher position when the protrusion, and thereby the side wall, is infolded position. The side wall is suitably provided with a claw whilethe circumambient edge is provided with a void, said claw and void beingarranged to interact so that an erected side wall will be prevented frombeing unintentionally disengaged from the base member. The claw of theside wall is disengaged from the void of the circumambient edge throughthe process of being angled slightly inwards followed by lifting theside wall.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention the lower end of theside wall is provided with a stabilising low rib intended to interactwith a groove arranged on the base member. Said stabilising low rib willhereby fall into said groove when said side wall is in erected position.The side wall is hereby folded through the process of being liftedslightly to disengage the stabilising low rib from the groove beforefolding said side wall from erected position to folded position.

[0010] At least two opposite side walls are each provided with a firstand a second horizontal folding line by being provided with hinges. Thefirst horizontal folding line constitutes a lower end of the side wallat which the side wall connects with the base member. The secondhorizontal folding line, which divides the side wall into an upper sidewall part and a lower side wall part, is placed at a distance from thefirst horizontal folding line, between the lower end and an upper rim ofthe side walls. The two horizontal folding lines are mainly parallel.

[0011] The invention also relates to a process where the collapsiblecontainer is folded sequentially by folding the upper side wall parttowards the lower side wall part. Said wall parts hereby becomes mainlyparallel. The partly folded side wall is then folded towards the loadsurface. The procedure is repeated for the opposite side wall whereuponthe two remaining side walls are, one after the other, folded on top ofthe two, first folded, side walls.

[0012] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention thecollapsible container is folded sequentially by folding the upper sidewall part towards the lower side wall part so that said wall partsbecomes mainly parallel. The procedure is repeated for the opposite sidewall whereupon the two remaining side walls are, one after the other,folded towards the load surface. Said two side walls, consisting ofupper and lower side wall parts, are then folded on top of the sidewalls already arranged on the load surface.

[0013] The collapsible container is according to one special embodimentfolded sequentially by folding the upper side wall part towards thelower side wall part so that said wall parts becomes mainly parallel.The folded side wall is then folded towards the load surface. Theprocedure is repeated for the opposite side wall whereupon the tworemaining side walls, which are also divided into upper side wall partsand lower side wall parts, are folded, one after the other, on top ofthe two first folded side walls by repeating the procedure of the firstside wall.

[0014] The divided side walls are suitably provided with a link memberused for moveably connecting the upper side wall part to the lower sidewall part. The upper edge of said lower side wall part and the loweredge of said upper side wall part are provided with protrusions andmatching recesses which are intended to interact. Said link member isattached to at least one of said side wall parts via an oblong holeallowing the protrusions and recesses of the side wall parts to bedistanced from each other by forcing them apart thereby allowing foldingof said upper side wall part and that stability is achieved when saiddivided side wall is in erected state.

[0015] The side walls are suitably also provided coupling means at theirrespective vertical edges, said coupling means being intended to lockadjacent side walls together when they are in erected position. Saidcoupling means locking are disengaged by lifting said side wall and saidcoupling means being engaged by allowing said side wall to movedownwards when erected in correct position adjacent other erected sidewall.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention the side walls areprovided coupling means at their respective vertical edges. Saidcoupling means are intended to lock adjacent side walls together whenthey are in erected position. Said coupling means locking is disengagedby lifting the upper side wall part and said coupling means is engagedby allowing said side wall to move downwards when erected in correctposition adjacent other erected side wall.

[0017] The divided side wall is suitably provided with a clamping meansbeing arranged at the second horizontal folding line. Said clampingmeans are used for clamping the upper side wall part and the lower sidewall part together at times where folding is not desired. These clampingmeans are suitably moveably integrated with the side wall.

[0018] At least two side walls, arranged on opposite sides of thecontainer, are suitably provided with locking means. Said locking meansare used for locking adjacent side walls together when the side wallsare in erected position.

[0019] The base part preferably has the basic shape of a pallet providedwith feet and skids making it possible to handle the container withmechanical means such as a fork lift.

[0020] A collapsible container according to the present invention ispreferably manufactured through injection moulding, vacuum moulding,blow moulding or press moulding of one or more polymeric materials suchas polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyvinylchloride,polyalkylene-therephtalate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer,polyamide, polycarbonate or the like. Since the desired materialcharacteristics of the different parts that the container is made up ofcan vary from part to part it is possible to add different additives tothe thermoplastic material that will make this possible. As examples ofsuch known additives can be mentioned ethylene-vinyl-acetate and rubberbeads which will make the material more ductile and more impactresistant, but on the other hand more disposed to thermal creepage, orglass fibre, carbon fibre, steel fibre or aramide fibre which will makethe material more rigid, less disposed to thermal creepage but on theother hand more brittle.

[0021] The invention is illustrated further through the enclosed figuresshowing embodiments of the invention whereby,

[0022]FIG. 1 shows schematically and in perspective and exploded view acollapsible container 1 according to first embodiment of the invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows schematically and in perspective view a collapsiblecontainer 1 according to second embodiment of the invention.

[0024]FIG. 3 shows schematically and in perspective view corner parts ofa base member 2 and lower portions of a side wall 3 of a collapsiblecontainer 1 according to the invention.

[0025]FIG. 4 shows schematically and in perspective view, seen from theoutside, upper corner parts of a collapsible container 1 where two sidewalls 3 are connected to one another.

[0026]FIG. 5 shows schematically and in perspective view, seen from theinside, upper corner parts of a collapsible container 1 where twoadjacent side walls 3 are in the process to be connected to one another.

[0027]FIGS. 6a and 6 b show schematically and in cross-section lowerportions of a collapsible container 1 according to the invention where aside wall 3 is moveably connected to a base member 2.

[0028]FIG. 7 shows schematically and in perspective view, seen from theoutside, parts of a collapsible container 1 according to the inventionwhere an upper side wall part 3 _(U) and a lower side wall part 3 _(L)are moveably connected to one another.

[0029]FIG. 1 shows schematically and in perspective and exploded view acollapsible container 1 according to first embodiment of the invention.The collapsible container 1 includes a base member 2 and collapsibleside walls 3. The base member 2 is provided with feet members 21, acircumambient edge 22 and a mainly horizontal load surface 23. The loadsurface 23 is provided with recesses 24 extending downwards from theload surface 23. The recesses 24 are arranged adjacent the edge 22. Allfour side walls 3 (only two shown) are provided with downwards extendingprotrusions 31 said protrusions 31 being arranged to interact with saidrecesses 24. The side walls 3 engages the base member 2 through verticalmotion. The lower ends of the side walls 3 are provided with astabilising low rib 33 (see FIG. 3) intended to interact with a groove25 (see FIG. 3) arranged on the base member 2 wherein said stabilisinglow rib 33 falls into said groove 25 when said side wall 3 is in erectedposition. Portions of the cirumambient edge 22 has for the reason ofclarity been cut away in FIG. 3. The side walls 3 are further providedcoupling means 35 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) at their respective verticaledges. The coupling means 35 are intended to lock adjacent side walls 3together when they are in erected position. The coupling means 35locking is disengaged by lifting said side wall 3 a specified distancewhereby said side wall 3 is tilted. The coupling means 35 are engaged byallowing said side wall 3 to move downwards when erected in correctposition adjacent other erected side wall 3. Two side walls 3, arrangedon opposite sides of the container 1, may also be provided with lockingmeans. Said locking means being used for locking adjacent side wallstogether when the side walls 3 are in erected position. Two of the sidewalls 3, preferably arranged on opposite sides, may also be providedwith claws 310′ as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6 b while the circumambientedge 22 is provided with a void 240′ also shown in FIGS. 6a and 6 b. Thehinge member 32 isn't present in this special embodiment. The claws 310′and voids 240′ are arranged to interact so that an erected side wall 3will be prevented from being unintentionally disengaged from the basemember 2. The claws 310′ are disengaged from the voids 240′ by tiltingthe side wall 3 inwards after having removed or folded the adjacent sidewalls 3.

[0030]FIG. 2 shows schematically and in perspective view a collapsiblecontainer 1 according to second embodiment of the invention. Thecollapsible container 1 includes a base member 2 and collapsible sidewalls 3. The base member 2 is provided with feet members 21, acircumambient edge 22 (see FIG. 1) and a mainly horizontal load surface23. The load surface 23 is provided with recesses 24 (see FIG. 1)extending downwards from the load surface 23. The recesses 24 arearranged adjacent the edge 22. All four side walls 3 are provided withdownwards extending protrusions 31 (see FIG. 1) said protrusions 31being arranged to interact with said recesses 24. The side walls 3engages the base member 2 through vertical motion. The lower ends of theside walls 3 are provided with a stabilising low rib 33 (see FIG. 3)intended to interact with a groove 25 (see FIG. 3) arranged on the basemember 2 wherein said stabilising low rib 33 falls into said groove 25when said side wall 3 is in erected position. Two opposite side walls 3are each provided with a first and a second horizontal folding line 31and 3″ respectively by being provided with hinges. The first horizontalfolding line 3′ constitutes a lower end of the side wall 3 at which theside wall 3 connects with the base member 2. The second horizontalfolding line 3″, which divides the side wall 3 into an upper side wallpart 3 _(U) and a lower side wall part 3 _(L), is placed at a distancefrom the first horizontal folding line 31, between the lower end and theupper rim of the side walls 3. The two horizontal folding lines 3′ and31″ respectively are mainly parallel. The divided side walls 3 areprovided with a link member 34 (see FIG. 7) used for moveably connectingthe upper side wall part 3 _(U) to the lower side wall part 3 _(L). Theupper edge of said lower side wall part 3 _(L) and the lower edge ofsaid upper side wall part 3 _(U) are also provided with protrusions 34′and matching recesses 34″ which are intended to interact. Said linkmember 34 is attached to the side wall parts 3 _(U) and 3 _(L)respectively via oblong holes allowing the protrusions and recesses ofthe side wall parts 3 _(U) and 3 _(L) respectively to be distanced fromeach other by forcing them apart thereby allowing folding of said upperside wall part 3 _(U). Stability is achieved when said divided side wall3 is in erected state. The divided side walls 3 may also be providedwith a clamping means being arranged at the second horizontal foldingline 31. The clamping means is used for clamping the upper side wallpart 3 _(U) and the lower side wall part 3 _(L) together at times wherefolding is not desired. The upper part of the side walls 3 adjacent tothe divided side walls 3 as well as the upper side wall part 3 _(U) mayfurther be provided coupling means 35 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) at theirrespective vertical edges. The coupling means 35 are intended to lockadjacent side walls 3 together when they are in erected position. Thecoupling means 35 locking is disengaged by lifting said upper side wallpart 3 _(U) a specified distance whereby said upper side wall part 3_(U) is tilted. The coupling means 35 are engaged by allowing said upperside wall part 3 _(U) to move downwards when erected in correct positionadjacent other erected side wall 3.

[0031] The remaining parts of the side walls 3 may also be providedcoupling means 35 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) at their respective verticaledges. The coupling means 35 are intended to lock adjacent side walls 3together when they are in erected position. The coupling means 35locking is disengaged by lifting said side wall 3 a specified distancewhereby said side wall 3 is tilted. The coupling means 35 are engaged byallowing said side wall 3 to move downwards when erected in correctposition adjacent other erected side wall 3. Two side walls 3, arrangedon opposite sides of the container 1, may also be provided with lockingmeans. Said locking means being used for locking adjacent side wallstogether when the side walls 3 are in erected position. Two of the sidewalls 3, preferably arranged on opposite sides may also be provided withclaws 310′ as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6 b while the circumambient edge 22is provided with a void 240′ also shown in FIGS. 6a and 6 b. The hingemember 32 isn't present in this special embodiment. The claws 310′ andvoids 240′ are arranged to interact so that an erected side wall 3 willbe prevented from being unintentionally disengaged from the base member2. The claws 310′ are disengaged from the voids 240′ by tilting the sidewall 3 inwards after having removed or folded the adjacent side walls 3.

[0032]FIGS. 6a and 6 b show schematically in cross-section a specialembodiment of protrusions 31 and recesses 24. The protrusions 31 aremoveably attached to the side wall 3 via a hinge member 32. Theprotrusions 31 are furthermore provided with snapping heels 310 whilethe recesses 24 are provided with undercuts 240. The snapping heels 310and undercuts 240 are adapted to interact, limiting the verticalmovement of the protrusions 31 and thereby the side wall 3. Theundercuts 240, the protrusions 31 and the snapping heels 310 arearranged to allow a limited vertical movement so that the protrusion 31,and thereby the side wall 3, will be located in a lowermost positionwhen the side wall 3 is in erected position (see FIG. 6a) and in ahigher position when the protrusion 31, and thereby the side wall 3, isin folded position (see FIG. 6b). The side wall 3 may furthermore beprovided with a claw 310′ while the circumambient edge 22 is providedwith a void 240′. Said claw 310′ and void 240′ are arranged to interactso that an erected side wall 3 will be prevented from beingunintentionally disengaged from the base member 2. The claw 310′ of theside wall 3 is disengaged from the void 240′ of the circumambient edge22 by being angled slightly inwards followed by lifting the side wall 3.

[0033] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments shown asit is possible to make different alternatives within the scope if theinvention. It for example possible to provide a container according tothe invention with three side walls 3 connected to the base member 2 viahinged protrusions 31 as shown in the FIGS. 6a and 6 b while the fourthside wall is provided with solid protrusions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.This will facilitate loading and emptying of such a collapsiblecontainer 1 as one of the side walls 3 can be removed during handling.

1. Collapsible container, preferably a collapsible pallet container fortransport and storage, which collapsible container includes a basemember, collapsible side walls, which adjacent side walls areinter-connectable, wherein the base member is provided with feetmembers, a circumambient edge and a mainly horizontal load surfacewhereby the load surface is provided with recesses extending downwardsfrom the load surface, said recesses being arranged adjacent the edgeand that at least one side wall is provided with downwards extendingprotrusions, said protrusions being arranged to interact with saidrecesses, that said at least one side wall engages the base memberthrough vertical motion.
 2. Collapsible container according to claim 1,wherein at least two opposite side walls each are provided with a firstand a second horizontal folding line by being provided with hinges,which first horizontal folding line constitutes a lower end of the sidewall at which the side wall connects with the base member and whichsecond horizontal folding line, which divides the side wall into anupper side wall part and a lower side wall part, is placed at a distancefrom the first horizontal folding line, between the lower end and anupper rim of the side walls and that the two horizontal folding linesare mainly parallel.
 3. A process according to claim 2, whereby thecollapsible container is folded sequentially by folding the upper sidewall part towards the lower side wall part so that said wall partsbecomes mainly parallel whereupon the folded side wall is folded towardsthe load surface, that the procedure is repeated for the opposite sidewall whereupon the two remaining side walls are, one after the other,folded on top of the two, first folded, side walls.
 4. A processaccording to claim 2, whereby the collapsible container (1) is foldedsequentially by folding the upper side wall part (3 _(U)) towards thelower side wall part (3 _(L)) so that said wall parts (3 _(U) and 3 _(L)respectively) becomes mainly parallel, that the procedure is repeatedfor the opposite side wall (3) whereupon the two remaining side walls(3) are, one after the other, folded towards the load surface (23)whereupon said two side walls (3), consisting of upper and lower sidewall parts (3 _(U) and 3 _(L) respectively) are folded on top of theside walls (3) already arranged on the load surface (23).
 5. A processaccording to claim 2, whereby the collapsible container is foldedsequentially by folding the upper side wall part towards the lower sidewall part so that said wall parts becomes mainly parallel whereupon thefolded side wall is folded towards the load surface, that the procedureis repeated for the opposite side wall whereupon the two remaining sidewalls, which two remaining side walls are also divided into upper sidewall parts and lower side wall parts are folded, one after the other,ton top of the two first folded side walls by repeating the procedure ofthe first side wall.
 6. Collapsible container according to claim 1,wherein the protrusions are moveably attached to the side wall via ahinge member.
 7. Collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein theprotrusions are provided with snapping heels while the recesses areprovided with undercuts, that the snapping heels and undercuts areadapted to interact, limiting the vertical movement of the protrusionsand thereby the side wall.
 8. Collapsible container according to claim6, wherein the protrusions are provided with snapping heels while therecesses are provided with undercuts, that the snapping heels and theundercuts are adapted to interact, thereby limiting the verticalmovement of the protrusions and thereby the side wall.
 9. Collapsiblecontainer according to claim 8, wherein the side wall is provided with aclaw while the circumambient edge is provided with a void, said claw andvoid being arranged to interact so that an erected side wall will beprevented from being unintentionally disengaged from the base member.10. Collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the side wall isprovided with a claw while the circumambient edge is provided with avoid, said claw and void being arranged to interact so that an erectedside wall will be prevented from being unintentionally disengaged fromthe base member.
 11. A process according to claim 9, wherein the claw ofthe side wall is disengaged from the void of the circumambient edge bybeing angled slightly inwards followed by lifting the side wall. 12.Collapsible container according to claim 8, wherein the recesses, theundercuts, the protrusions and the snapping heels are arranged to allowa limited vertical movement so that the protrusion, and thereby the sidewall, will be located in a lowermost position when the side wall is inerected position and in a higher position when the protrusion, andthereby the side wall, is in folded position.
 13. Collapsible containeraccording to claim 8, wherein the lower end of the side wall is providedwith a stabilizing low rib intended to interact with a groove arrangedon the base member wherein said stabilizing low rib falls into saidgroove when said side wall is in erected position.
 14. A processaccording to claim 13, wherein the side wall is lifted slightly todisengage the stabilizing low rib from the groove before folding saidside wall from erected position to folded position.
 15. Collapsiblecontainers according to claim 2, wherein the divided side walls areprovided with a link member used for moveably connecting the upper sidewall part to the lower side wall part, that the upper edge of said lowerside wall part and the lower edge of said upper side wall part areprovided with protrusions and matching recesses which are intended tointeract, that said link member is attached to at least one of said sidewall parts via an oblong hole allowing the protrusions and recesses ofthe side wall parts to be distanced from each other by forcing themapart thereby allowing folding of said upper side wall part and thatstability is achieved when said divided side wall is in erected state.16. Collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the side wallsare provided coupling means at their respective vertical edges, saidcoupling means being intended to lock adjacent side walls together whenthey are in erected position, said coupling means locking beingdisengaged by lifting said side wall and said coupling means beingengaged by allowing said side wall to move downwards when erected incorrect position adjacent other erected side wall.
 17. Collapsiblecontainer according to claim 6, wherein the side walls are providedcoupling means at their respective vertical edges, said coupling meansbeing intended to lock adjacent side walls together when they are inerected position, said coupling means locking being disengaged bylifting said side wall and said coupling means being engaged by allowingsaid side wall to move downwards when erected in correct positionadjacent other erected side wall.
 18. Collapsible container according toclaim 15, wherein the side walls are provided coupling means at theirrespective vertical edges, said coupling means being intended to lockadjacent side walls together when they are in erected position, saidcoupling means locking being disengaged by lifting the upper side wallpart and said coupling means being engaged by allowing said side wall tomove downwards when erected in correct position adjacent other erectedside wall.
 19. Collapsible container according to claim 15, wherein thedivided side wall is provided with a clamping means being arranged atthe second horizontal folding line, said clamping means being used forclamping the upper side wall part and the lower side wall part togetherat times when folding is not desired.
 20. Collapsible containeraccording to claim 19, wherein the clamping means are moveablyintegrated with the side wall.
 21. Collapsible container according toclaim 1, wherein at least two side walls, arranged on opposite sides ofthe container, are provided with locking means, that said locking meansare used for locking adjacent side walls together when the side wallsare in erected position.
 22. Collapsible containers according to claim16, wherein at least two side walls, arranged on opposite sides of thecontainer, are provided with locking means, that said locking means areused for locking adjacent side walls together when the side walls are inerected position.
 23. Collapsible container according to claim 1,wherein the collapsible container is manufactured through injectionmolding, vacuum molding, blow molding or press molding of at least onepolymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene,polypropylene, polybutene, polyvinylchloride,polyalkylene-therephtalate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer,polyamide and polycarbonate.